The Flight is booked !

[seehas]

wow amazing times for me i did many things i needed to do maybe 15 years ago already , now i quit my job and i booked a flight to panama without return ticket , i will just arrive with a small backpack and i want to go to columbia by boat and from there to ecuador also, maybe i meet some of you?

since i know some avalonians are based in that region what hints/advices can you give me? what about malaria and other flues? i don't want a vaccine what do u think?


some weeks to go and i have to study some basic spanish since my knowledge is very poor.

[Spiral of Light]

Congratulations, Seehas, for seizing the day and moving forward with your dreams!

I wish you all the best in your journey.

[nenosema]

Interesting you mention this!
I was just the other day looking around for some pictures of the rainforests of Panama, found a couple of lovely ones, thought i might share them?


















Have fun,, I hope you come across truly wild and beautiful scenery

[seehas]

Posted by nenosema (here)
Interesting you mention this!
I was just the other day looking around for some pictures of the rainforests of Panama, found a couple of lovely ones, thought i might share them?




Have fun,, I hope you come across truly wild and beautiful scenery

thank your very much i love the wildlife so much, who knows maybe maybe i find a place i like so much i will not return back home.

[christian]

Posted by seehas (here)
i booked a flight to panama without return ticket

When I flew to Ecuador last year, they wouldn't have let me if I had had no return ticket, can you believe that? Bloody regulations...

In Panama, maybe check out Kalu Yala, it's close to Panama City.

And for traveling, you can find boats where you can join as a crew member on oceancrewlink.com and other sites.

Good luck on your journeys!

[seehas]

Posted by christian (here)

Posted by seehas (here)
i booked a flight to panama without return ticket

When I flew to Ecuador last year, they wouldn't have let me if I had had no return ticket, can you believe that? Bloody regulations...

In Panama, maybe check out Kalu Yala, it's close to Panama City.

And for traveling, you can find boats where you can join as a crew member on oceancrewlink.com and other sites.

Good luck on your journeys!

wow did you had a return ticket? i hope I'm not getting into trouble when arriving at panama - or maybe buy another ticket from panama to somewhere cheap but never use it? crazy regulations.

my uncle told me about search for a boat but since i can't sail and i get seasick I'm maybe not the best crew member u can imagine but thanks for the link i have to research some.

[christian]

Posted by seehas (here)
wow did you had a return ticket? i hope I'm not getting into trouble when arriving at panama - or maybe buy another ticket from panama to somewhere cheap but never use it? crazy regulations.

I had one, kind of unplanned though, I didn't look at the regulations beforehand. The woman at the airport wouldn't give me my ticket unless I showed her that I had already booked another flight out of Ecuador, which surprised me, but she said that's the usual procedure.

I recently read that it's the same when you travel to the US, you have to show a ticket out of the country, and not to Mexico or Canada, or something like that. Maybe google can help you there, or just call the embassy or a consulate. I don't quite get this issue with the return or forward ticket anyways, I mean, what if you just wanna go on back-packing through several countries open-ended, like you do? I figure they just don't want poor illegal immigrants... That's also why in some countries you have to prove that you have a certain amount of money, if you want to stay for so and so long.

[Phoenix1304]

Sound like fantastic adventures ahead!

Re, malaria, there is a homeopathic preparation that I've taken in hotspots, you might consider that as a better alternative to the mainstream offerings. I'd avoid vaccines personally and carry Citricidal (grapefruit extract) for upset tum and siverbiotics (nano silver). A pot of high dose probiotics would be a good idea too. Take care of your digestive system, it governs 60% of the immune system and it comes under quite an assault when travelling in places your body isn't used to.

Just my two cents. Will look forward to hearing of your travels. Brave move, one I've been trying to make for a couple of years, backpacking to get a taste for several places south of the border is probably up the best way to do it, at first, but it's tough on girls, especially old ones with a lifetime's collection of 'stuff' to store or sell. You must be feeling wonderfully free, excited and filled with anticipation. I do hope you are led to a little corner of paradise that you may call home. Bon Voyage!

[Mulder]

Here's what I do when I travel:
1. I print out a fictional itinerary from expedia.com showing a return flight 2 weeks later (I've found they never check if I've paid for it).
2. Take 3+ old debit cards that have no balance, but haven't expired so it looks like I have a few bank accounts.
3. Print out a hotel itinerary from expedia.com showing the 2 weeks I'm staying and show it to them. They've never checked so far.
4. Never carry any banned items - or food as this stops me from being searched in finniky countries like Australia.
5. Say I'm here on "business" - the business can be to look at houses for sale, as this is better than saying "holiday".
6 Deny ever being in jail or committing a crime and deny any "illness" if they ask.

I can't think of anything else major. Never pack money and valuables into your stowed bag and lock the zips of your case for security.

[Sidney]

hey be sure to get MMS if you are able. It kills almost any bacteria you may come into contact with especially malaria. Check out http://jimhumble.org/
blessing to you and your wonderful journey. I am a bit envious. Please be careful and ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Snookie]

Make sure you have travel insurance. My step son who is a Dr just got back from a horrific holiday in Mexico. The father of one of his daughter's friends rented a jeep which did not have seat belts and ended up rolling it. The Dr's at the hospital waited 2 hours to treat him, probably thinking he would die of his injuries anyway. My stepson almost gave them his credit card, but thankfully the father of his separated wife gave his, since this guy didn't have any travel insurance.

After a few days, the tests showed he was brain dead, so they took him off the meds and were going to unplug the respirator. Guess what? Mexican law wouldn't let them, so my step son had to arrange for a medi-vac to fly him home to Southern Alberta. Once he was back they unplugged him, and he passed almost immediately. Apparently he not only had no travel insurance he didn't have life insurance either.

His family will be financially devastated because of his lack of caring enough to take some basic precautions.

[seehas]

after several phone calls with the airport I've found out they only want to see a bus ticket to "puertorico" booked with my name on it and they let me board the plane.

I'm happy its that easy because the bus is really cheap and doesn't hurt to much


@snookie

what a horrific story i hope your stepson is ok? he was also inside the jeep? yes I've already did that insurance because it was really cheap within the ticket but usually i lack in insurance stuff.

[Operator]

Posted by nenosema (here)
Interesting you mention this!
I was just the other day looking around for some pictures of the rainforests of Panama, found a couple of lovely ones, thought i might share them?


















Have fun,, I hope you come across truly wild and beautiful scenery

Yep, the Panama rainforest is gorgeous !! I was there 5 months ago ...
Speaking Spanish is a must, even in Panama city not everyone speaks English.

Panama is still going strong, having the Panama Canal is a good economic asset. They are pegged to the
US Dollar however ... but a couple of months ago there was a sudden bank holiday during a few days.
I wonder if they made preparations ...

[seehas]

Posted by Operator (here)

Posted by nenosema (here)
Interesting you mention this!
I was just the other day looking around for some pictures of the rainforests of Panama, found a couple of lovely ones, thought i might share them?



Have fun,, I hope you come across truly wild and beautiful scenery

Yep, the Panama rainforest is gorgeous !! I was there 5 months ago ...
Speaking Spanish is a must, even in Panama city not everyone speaks English.

Panama is still going strong, having the Panama Canal is a good economic asset. They are pegged to the
US Dollar however ... but a couple of months ago there was a sudden bank holiday during a few days.
I wonder if they made preparations ...

yes i have been warned someone told me already "DONT BE A GRINGO" i give my best

[toad]

Good luck my friend, and may you journey well. One piece of advice I can give you is, the minute you make yourself look out of place you become a target to alot of people. Blend in with your surroundings, talk to natives, learn the cultures. Be incognito. Hope you find what you are looking for!


friend of mine went to panama few years ago, he had only great things to share:

[seehas]

thanks for all that posted here to support me my plans got some changes now, i quit my flat and im now selling and giving away all i own in my old area because i don't want something that holds me back.

this journey will be open ended and aim amazed already where destiny puts me to

only a little over 1 week to go and still so much to do here, but I'm sad already in future i won't be able to be in this forum that often because i will not own a computer anymore

[Operator]

Posted by seehas (here)
thanks for all that posted here to support me my plans got some changes now, i quit my flat and im now selling and giving away all i own in my old area because i don't want something that holds me back.

this journey will be open ended and aim amazed already where destiny puts me to

only a little over 1 week to go and still so much to do here, but I'm sad already in future i won't be able to be in this forum that often because i will not own a computer anymore

You will be fine ... just keep the compass that points to what you want the most.

[seehas]

Since nearly 11 months have passed i would like to make an update.

im not back home yet i consider peru as my new home i found my soulmate she is from peru (we found eachother in the jungle) we just married , its so crazy life is like a movie sometimes and we are the director.

My best travelguide wasnt written on paper or on a website, i followed my heart (intuition) and i still cant belive it.

i want to join coin of a project in peru and work with openminded people its kinda hard find something yet also i have to practise more spanish. Everything is possible


Thanks PA ! Maybe this thread can help to encourage someone with an idea to just do it

[sigma6]

Sorry I'm music mode today...

Best wishes seehas... I wish you an awesome journey full of adventure and good fortune... peace be with you wherever you may sojourn...

Leaving on a Jet Plane by Chantel Kreviazuk
Of course in this song, she doesn't want to go... but it's still a heart warming classic ":-]

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Jb6J_ejLd7o

[Flash]

Posted by Mulder (here)
Here's what I do when I travel:
1. I print out a fictional itinerary from expedia.com showing a return flight 2 weeks later (I've found they never check if I've paid for it).
2. Take 3+ old debit cards that have no balance, but haven't expired so it looks like I have a few bank accounts.
3. Print out a hotel itinerary from expedia.com showing the 2 weeks I'm staying and show it to them. They've never checked so far.
4. Never carry any banned items - or food as this stops me from being searched in finniky countries like Australia.
5. Say I'm here on "business" - the business can be to look at houses for sale, as this is better than saying "holiday".
6 Deny ever being in jail or committing a crime and deny any "illness" if they ask.

I can't think of anything else major. Never pack money and valuables into your stowed bag and lock the zips of your case for security.

All good except for one: if coming to the US or Canada NEVER say it is for business even if it truly is. They will think you will remain to do illegal work and ask for business invitations etc etc IF they let you in. Upon entering US, i am always visiting a friend i have known for a while , i hav its address at hand and the little story of how we met like. 20 years ago. Then i hav no problems.